What Happened to Pets in the Path of the 2017 Hurricanes?
During the summer of 2017, Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Marie and Nate hurled their way into the southern coasts one after another. For a single hurricane season, it was the greatest number of storms to make U.S. landfall in more than a decade. Thousands of people were displaced, and many temporary housing facilities simply couldn’t accommodate …
Cancer-Sniffing Dogs Are the Best Medicine
The dog was obsessed with a mole on his person’s leg. The mixed breed constantly sniffed at the blemish — even when the woman wore pants — and eventually tried to bite it off. Although the woman wasn’t particularly concerned about the mole, her dog’s persistence convinced her to seek her doctor’s opinion. As it …
Virtual Vets: Taking Health Care Online
The pervasiveness of smartphones, webcams and the internet has made face-to-face communication from remote locations commonplace, if not mundane. Even, to some degree, when the other face is sporting a white lab coat. In human health, telemedicine has not only gained traction, it’s breaking records. Which raises the question, can virtual veterinarians be far behind? …
Urban Search & Rescue Dogs Risk Lives to Save Lives
Every time a natural or not-so-natural disaster makes headlines, you can bet that urban search and rescue dogs (USAR) are quietly at work behind the scenes. From Ground Zero and Hurricane Katrina to tornadoes in Oklahoma, floods in Colorado, mudslides in Washington and even earthquakes in Haiti, these trained rescue dogs have applied their noses …
Do You Have a Disaster Plan for Your Pets?
You don’t even want to think about it. But fires, tornadoes, floods, earthquakes and other natural disasters do happen, and you need to think ahead to protect your family. But be sure to make those forward-thinking thoughts include your pets. What if you need to evacuate? Many evacuation shelters can’t take pets, and you don’t …
Pet Cloning Comes of Age
Human cloning may be banned, but that hasn’t stopped the sale of gag cloning kits. One kit, for example, promises you can “be the first one on your block to be the second one on your block.” Although it sounds far-fetched, genetic preservation is no longer a joke. In fact, multiple companies now offer cloning …
Off the Beaten Path: How to Hike with Your Dog
With summer right around the corner, it’s time to think about ways to get out and enjoy the nice weather. A great way to soak up those rays is by getting outside and hitting the trails — and your pooch probably agrees! Here are some things to keep in mind as you get ready to …
Dos and Don’ts of Winter Pet Vacations
Let’s face it: there’s only so much shoveling you can do before your arms go on strike and demand a winter vacation. Whether you want to surf the waves at the beach or rip through the moguls at a ski resort, your dog or cat shouldn’t always have to stay behind. Why not consider a …
Winter Safety Tips for Pets
If you live in a region that’s expecting cold weather, you’ve probably already battened down the hatches for winter. You’ve fluffed up the down comforter, mounted snow tires or resurrected the thermal underwear from the bottom of your drawer. But what about your dog or cat? How can you help promote pet safety for them …
Destructive Behavior in Pets: It’s Not Spite
When you’re not home, does your pet have their way with your belongings? Are the mangled boots, the peekaboo hole in the cashmere throw, or the gnawed window frame a statement of your dog or cat’s dissatisfaction? While it may seem like an overt case of vindictiveness, rest assured that your pet isn’t doing it …